When Orlando Police and Orange County Sheriff’s Office tactical teams used explosives to break through the wall of Pulse nightclub to confront gunman Omar Mateen, some Orlando Fire Department personnel — including its arson and bomb squad — thought the shooter was the one who set off the blast.
That detail was among several examples of inadequate communication and outdated training policies that hampered the multi-agency response to the June 12, 2016 massacre at Pulse, creating confusion between OFD, Orange County Fire Rescue, police and the Sheriff’s Office, according to a report released Wednesday.
The report was produced by the National Police Foundation, which was asked by the Fire Department to review its handling of the mass shooting that claimed 49 lives. The report also credited OFD rescuers for their “professionalism, dedication and bravery,” which it said saved the lives of victims. Among the shortfalls identified in the report: Instead of establishing a central command center, Orlando police and fire commanders set up at separate spots near the scene.